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enWill MLSs biggest season yet even start on time?With its latest batch of stars ready to go (well, almost all of them),Kristan Heneageexplains why Fridays big kick-off might well be a non-event...Kristan Heneagehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/will-mlss-biggest-season-yet-even-start-time
The return of Major League Soccer is almost upon us... or at least it should be.
On the cusp of its 20th season a clutch of big names, including Kaka and Sebastian Giovinco, have arrived ahead of a exciting next chapter in American soccer history. But there is tension in the air.
The nervousness surrounding the league, however, is not about whether these new faces will perform, but whether they will see pitch time at all.
Talks over the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the MLS Players Union and the League itself appear deadlocked over the players' demand for free agency.
FIFPro have lent their support to the Players Union, but there's no doubt that they face an uphill struggle to see their demands met. "The principle of free agency is one we support wholeheartedly," said FIFPro spokesman Andrew Orsatti. "We stand by our colleagues in the United States who are presently locked in this battle, which we want to see end favourably for the players of course, but also in a manner which guarantees a fair and reasonable balance between all parties."
Strike out
Unlike any other in the world, MLS is a single entity league. Consequently, that means they control players' contracts and often orchestrate their transfers.
Players are sent to clubs without having to agree to the move. Take Ambroise Oyongo, for example. The defender was with New York Red Bulls and claimed he turned down suitors in Europe in order to stay in the Big Apple after being given assurances of his future.
Weeks later he was sent to Canadian side Montreal Impact along with Eric Alexander and other incentives in exchange for Felipe Martins, an international player spot and allocation money.
This single entity nature stops clubs within MLS competing with each other for talent, but also stifles the salaries of players at the bottom. Perhaps understandaby, advocates of the structure view it as a way to stop overspending – a significant factor behind the North American Soccer League's foldingin 1985.
It's not the first time strike action has been proposed; the current situation seems similar to that of 2010. Under the previous rules, clubs could exercise a 48-hour first right of refusal on players whose contracts had expired or didn’t have their options picked up. To satisfy those complaints, MLS set up the Re-Entry Draft in 2010, in which teams select out-of-contract players. The new system provided internal movement for veteran players.
However, the process has been subject to criticism, with the topic of free agency resurfacing again during the off-season. The argument of player salaries has also been a point of discussion thanks to the significant increase in earnings for those at the very top. Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp, currently earning $95,000 per season, voiced his displeasure at the financial disparity when he tweeted: “I wonder if Giovinco knows that he will literally make more money in two days than some of his team-mates will the entire year @MLS.”
I wonder if Giovinco knows that he will literally make more money in 2 days than some of his teammates will the entire year @MLS
— Harry Shipp (@championShipp11) January 20, 2015
It was a valid argument in ways, and has set the two parties on a collision course. With some stars in the league, including Giovinco, earning 200 times that of their team-mates, it has led to a gulf of wealth within the league. Members of the Players Union, now ready to strike, have revealed they have been preparing for this moment for almost two years.
Money talks
With the season scheduled to begin on Friday, strike action now seems likely. The Union is understood to have financial reserves in order to combat any lockout, although a long-term strike would be difficult for some players to take, and has even led to claims that they could seek offers from NASL or in Mexico.
On the surface it sounds like an issue of footballers simply wanting more money, but the situation many players find themselves in is difficult. At the lowest end, players earn between $35,000 and $40,000 per year, taking up second and sometimes third jobs in order to play the game.
Players like Joe Nasco, who was interviewed for the March edition of FourFourTwo, even took spare food from the training complex to make ends meet.
The figures do, however, represent a significant improvement from a decade ago, when some players earned as little as $13-14,000 per year. The rationale for such meagre contracts was that the league lacked the finances to offer more; that these players were apprentices and should they contribute more to their team, they could increase their salary.
Some, like United States and Sporting KC duo Graham Zusi and Matt Besler, have achieved that success, but there is a limit to the number of Designated Player contracts on offer. The percentage of young players in the U.S. making it in professional soccer is already low, and those numbers decrease further when it comes to those making a solid living from it.
Capital crunch
Player representatives, including Shipp, are currently engaged in discussions in Washington D.C., where they have been joined by owners of the clubs for the first time in an attempt to avert strike action.
Speaking about the talks, D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell revealed that concessions had been made. “Our question now is, are they going to make any back toward us?” he told the Washington Post. “The jury is still out on that one.”
From the owners' perspective, public discussion has been minimal at best. Real Salt Lake’s owner Dell Loy Hansen broke the silence when he said during a radio interview: "[Free agency] is not going to change. That’s a go-nowhere conversation. The players have tried it twice, and it’s been defeated by the courts.
"It’s just a foolish place to waste time. It can’t exist where everyone is employed by the same employer."
His comments earned him a whopping fine of around $150,000, according to reports, with Commissioner Don Garber explaining: "The comments made by Mr. Hansen are not permitted under the League’s constitution. We are engaged in constructive negotiations with our players and such comments are not appropriate, nor helpful to the negotiations."
The coming days will show how true Garber’s evaluation is. Those closest to the league are far from optimistic that Friday’s game between LA Galaxy and Chicago Firewill go ahead.
And while that could harm the momentum of MLS in the short term, the implementation of free agency could be far more important in pushing the sport forward.
featureTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:30:00 +0000Joe Brewin354461 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comNew MLS franchises handed early meetingThe two new franchises in MLS, Orlando City and New York City, will face off in the first round of the 2015 season.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/new-mls-franchises-handed-early-meeting
MLS unveiled its schedule for the new campaign on Wednesday, featuring an expanded post-season involving 12 teams.
The year's first match will see champions LA Galaxy, who confirmed the signing of Steven Gerrard earlier in the day, host Chicago Fire on March 6.
Gerrard will not be available for that contestas he is scheduled to link up with his new team-mates inJuly.
New York are set to welcome another high-profile England international, Frank Lampard, to their roster in the same month.
However, two star names are on course tofeature in New York's opening match in Orlando on March 8, with ex-Spain strikerDavid Villapoised to come up against former Brazilian Kaka, a formerWorld Player of the Year.
For the first time in MLS history, the final day of the regular season will see matches in each conferenceplayed simultaneously as the qualifiers for the play-offs are determined.
Everyteam will play 34 games, with sixsidesfrom each of the Eastern and Western Conferences earningplay-off berths.
The season is set to end on either the weekend of December 5-6 or 12-13.
news_articleWed, 07 Jan 2015 21:35:53 +0000319541 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS: Chicago Fire 2 Houston Dynamo 1A stoppage-time winner from Florent Sinama-Pongolle saw Chicago Fire give outgoing captain Logan Pause a winning MLS finale.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/chicago-fire-2-houston-dynamo-1-hosts-give-pause-fitting-farewell
Chicago came from behind to defeat Houston Dynamo2-1 on Friday in both sides' last match of the MLS seasonwith neitherin the play-offs, as Jeff Larentowicz's penalty and Sinama-Pongolle's header gave the Fire victory.
Dynamo had led since the 18th minute through Omar Cummings but could not give coach Dominic Kinnear a gift of three points as the 47-year-old prepares to rejoin the San Jose Earthquakes next season.
Instead it was Pause who would be given a fitting farewell, with Sinama-Pongolle glancing a header from Grant Ward's right-wing cross inside the near post in the 91st minute at Toyota Park.
Defensive midfielder Pause completed his MLS career with 286 appearances for the Fire, which included two US Open Cup titles (2003 and 2006) and the Supporters' Shield in 2003.
Houston hit the front thanks to Cummings' header from a corner but they were reeled in after 65 minutes with Larentowicz converting from the spot, following Tyler Deric's trip on Ward.
Then Sinama-Pongolle's first goal for Chicago since joining the club in September saw the home fans end the season with a smile on their faces.
Kinnear - who moved to Houston when the former San Jose Sharks were relocated to Texas to form Dynamo in 2005 - will return to California with two MLS Cup titles from his time at BBVA Compass Stadium.
news_articleSat, 25 Oct 2014 03:12:02 +0000274683 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Wrap: Sporting KC qualify for play-offsSporting Kansas City secured a MLS play-off berth after accounting for Chicago Fire 2-0 on Friday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-review-sporting-kc-qualify-play-offs-whitecaps-track
Late goals from Graham Zusi and Dominic Dwyer helped Sporting KC to victory against second-bottom Chicago in front of 18,938 fans at Sporting Park.
Zusi broke the deadlock 10 minutes from the end before Dwyer made sure of the points in the second minute of injury time as Sporting KC, who moved second in the Eastern Conference momentarily, snapped their three-game losing streak at home.
The result was enough for Sporting KC to book their spot in the play-offs for a fourth consecutive campaign, having collected 49 points with two regular-season matches remaining in the East.
Sporting KC had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 13th minute after Benny Feilhaber was fouled inside the penalty area, but Dwyer fired his effort over the crossbar.
At the other end, Sporting KC goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum got down low to deny Fire forward Quincy Amarikwa and push the ball away for a corner.
Feilhaber came close to putting Sporting KC ahead, but his shot cannoned off the post and into the arms of Chicago keeper Sean Johnson.
After a scoreless opening half, the home side eventually made the breakthrough courtesy of Zusi with 10 minutes remaining.
Zusi charged towards the box before curling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area.
And Dwyer made amends for his earlier penalty attempt, nodding home his 21st goal of the season in the closing minutes and extending the Fire's winless streak to seven matches.
Meanwhile, Seattle Sounders missed the chance to move clear of Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference as Vancouver Whitecaps kept their play-off hopes alive.
Level on points with the Galaxy, Seattle were beaten 1-0 at home to the Whitecaps.
Kekuta Manneh's goal on the stroke of half-time was all that separated the two teams at CenturyLink Field.
The Sounders remain level on 60 points, though the Galaxy have a game in hand and are due to play Dallas on Sunday.
Vancouver reclaimed the fifth and final play-off spot in the West, moving one point ahead of Portland Timbers.
news_articleSat, 11 Oct 2014 05:03:24 +0000266502 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Preview: Sounders, Galaxy face tough tests​Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy both face stern challenges in their thrilling battle for the MLS Western Conference title this weekend.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-preview-sounders-and-galaxy-face-tough-tests-battle-west
The Sounders and the Galaxy are level on 60 points at the top of the division, with the Seattle club holding the advantage due to having won two more games than the California outfit.
With the duo holding eight more points than Eastern Conference leaders DC United with three games to play, the fight between the top two in the West looks set to decide who will claim the Supporters' Shield for the best record in the league.
That prize is likelyto be decided in nail-biting fashion as the pair face each other home and away in the final two games of the season, making the lastencounter before that effective play-off for the shield even more pivotal.
And both the Sounders and the Galaxy will need to be on top form to overcome teams with MLS Cup play-off ambitions of their own.
Seattle host a Whitecaps side two points outside of a play-off place on Saturday before, on Monday, the Galaxy take on a Dallas team that can secure a top-five spot with a win should the Whitecaps fail to emerge victorious.
Dropped points from the Whitecaps will also give Real Salt Lake the opportunity to clinch a play-off berth with victory over a San Jose Earthquakes team, whose only remaining goal is to avoid bottom spot in the conference.
Over in the Eastern Conference the picture is less clear, with DC United the only side absolutely guaranteed of a place in the post-season.
Seven teams from second to eighth in the East are in the fight for the remaining spots, although New England Revolution will be expected to seal one with an away win at bottom side Montreal Impact.
Sporting Kansas City will ensure a play-off placeby beating Chicago Fire, providing that New York Red Bulls prevent Toronto from claiming all three points at the Red Bull Arena.
A triumph for the Red Bulls will see them into the knock-out rounds should Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo fail to overcome Columbus Crew and conference leaders DC respectively.
Elsewhere, Chivas USA host Colorado Rapids.
news_articleThu, 09 Oct 2014 14:53:17 +0000265741 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Wrap: Martins inspires Sounders routSeattle Sounders boosted their Supporters Shield hopes with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Colorado Rapids in MLS on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-review-martins-inspires-sounders-rout
Obafemi Martins bagged a brace, while captain Clint Dempsey and Marco Pappa scored goals of their own as the Sounders moved level on points with Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference.
The Sounders (19 wins) and Galaxy (17) are locked on 60 points with three matches remaining as they battle for the Supporters' Shield - awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
United States international Dempsey broke the deadlock in the 11th minute at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, converting a penalty after Colorado defender Marvell Wynne handled the ball inside the area.
Martins doubled Seattle's lead in the 28th minute, springing the offside trap before firing past Rapids goalkeeper Clinton Irwin.
It got better for the visitors five minutes later as Dempsey played in Pappa with a cheeky back-heel before the Guatemalan winger lobbed the ball over Irwin.
The Rapids were given a glimmer of hope in their attempts to stay in the play-offs hunt, with Deshorn Brown firing low into the bottom corner two minutes shy of the interval.
Martins restored Seattle's three-goal advantage and took his season tally to 17, with a side-footed effort inside the six-yard box in the 70th minute.
Western Conference cellar-dwellers Chivas USA snapped a 12-game winless streak by stunning Real Salt Lake 1-0.
Chivas had not tasted victory since their 3-1 win at the Vancouver Whitecaps in July, while they were on a seven-game losing run.
But Felix Borja's 47th-minute goal - a rebound from close range after Erick Torres' chipped effort hit the bar - saw Chivas record victory at the StubHub Center.
Meanwhile, Chicago Fire bowed out of play-offs contention after playing out a goalless draw at home to fellow Eastern Conference strugglers the Montreal Impact.
Needing a win to stay in the post-season race, the Fire could only settle for a draw - their 18th of the campaign - against the East's bottom team.
news_articleMon, 06 Oct 2014 02:11:06 +0000264111 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS: Philadelphia Union 1 Chicago Fire 1Robert Earnshaws late equaliser denied the Philadelphia Union in MLS as the Chicago Fire earned a 1-1 draw on Thursday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/philadelphia-union-1-chicago-fire-1-earnshaw-equalises-late
The former Wales international came off the bench to net in the 92nd minute at PPL Park, cancelling out what appeared to be a match-winner just moments earlier from Amobi Okugo.
Earnshaw's late goal was a huge blow to the Union, who sit two points behind the fifth-placed New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference in the chase for the final play-off spot.
It marked the Union's 12th draw in 31 league matches this season, while the Fire have been involved in 17 stalemates in 30 and are nine points out of the play-offs.
The Union looked set to take a key three points when Okugo gave them an 88th-minute lead.
A cross from the right went uncleared and the midfielder reacted fastest to open the scoring from the middle of the penalty area.
But, in the second minute of additional time, Earnshaw levelled and the Union only had themselves to blame.
Rais M'Bolhi's clearance was a dreadful one and fell to Earnshaw, who carried the ball forward before chipping the stranded goalkeeper.
news_articleFri, 03 Oct 2014 03:04:30 +0000262614 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Preview: DC United ready to grindDC United can all but seal top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference on Friday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-preview-dc-united-ready-grind-revolution-host-crew
The runaway conference leaders have a six-point buffer on closest rivals the New England Revolution and Sporting Kansas City - both 45 points - ahead of their home clash with the latter.
DC need just one point to guarantee their spot in the play-offs, however all three would virtually rule out a faltering Sporting KC of getting into top spot.
Ben Olsen's men most recently snapped a league slump, winning their first in four in the MLS with a 1-0 result over Philadelphia Union.
Luis Silva, who scored the match-winner on Saturday, said the fixture was the perfect tune-up with only four games to play before the post-season.
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but we got the win, and that's all that matters," Silva said.
"That's how play-offs are going to be. Sometimes we have to grind games out, and I think the team did a good job."
The Revolution, second on games won, are at home to Columbus Crew, who are two points adrift in fourth spot.
A New England win would keep them in contention for top spot, although they will have their eye over their shoulder - with sixth-placed Toronto only five points behind Jay Heaps' outfit.
Philadelphia sit three points outside the top five in the East, but host struggling Chicago Fire on Thursday in a must-win contest for the Union.
Holding fifth spot in the conference, the New York Red Bulls - last-start losers - host Houston Dynamo, who are unbeaten in five heading into the Saturday clash.
Also on the fringe of play-offs contention in the Western Conference are the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are virtually in a one-on-one shootout with the Portland Timbers - one point behind - for fifth spot.
The Whitecaps welcome Dallas, while the Timbers are on the road at the San Jose Earthquakes.
The Los Angeles Galaxy, trailing the West-leading Seattle Sounders on games won, will host Toronto FC.
The Sounders travel to the Colorado Rapids in the pick of the Sunday matches, while Chicago Fire host Montreal Impact and Real Salt Lake travel to lowly Chivas USA.
news_articleTue, 30 Sep 2014 03:45:02 +0000261029 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Wrap: Keane scores twice in Galaxy rompRobbie Keane scored twice as the LA Galaxy returned to the top of the Western Conference with a 4-0 MLS win over New York Red Bulls.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-review-keane-scores-twice-galaxy-romp
The Galaxy moved ahead of the Seattle Sounders with their convincing home triumph.
Republic of Ireland star Keane opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a sensational chip after Landon Donovan stormed through the New York defence.
Donovan starred throughout the contest and doubled the Galaxy's lead in the 50th minute.
The attacker caught New York defender Chris Duvall napping and stripped him of possession before side-footing past goalkeeper Luis Robles.
New York's night went from bad to worse when Gyasi Zardes fired a powerful effort into the bottom-left corner with 21 minutes to play.
And there was still time for Keane to score again as he tapped in after an initial effort was saved by Robles following an excellent dinked pass from Donovan.
Sunday's other clash saw the Houston Dynamo beat the Chicago Fire 2-0.
Houston - who sit eighth - took the lead when Omar Cummings turned Ricardo Clark's excellent cross in after 15 minutes.
And Oscar Garcia sealed the three points when he side-footed a volley in with 23 minutes left.
news_articleMon, 29 Sep 2014 03:40:43 +0000260543 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Preview: Red Bulls enjoying tactical changeNew York Red Bulls star Thierry Henry said a tactical switch has his team well-placed to challenge late in the MLS season.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-preview-red-bulls-enjoying-tactical-change
Coach Mike Petke has opted for a 4-2-3-1 and the formation change has helped the Red Bulls go on a four-match unbeaten run.
The last of that stretch was a 4-1 thrashing of the Seattle Sounders as the prolific Bradley Wright-Phillips struck a hat-trick.
Henry said the change gave his team, who face the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday, more protection.
"We still give some goals away and easy opportunity for the other team, but I think we're in a better shape playing like this," he said.
"We always, most of the time, have 10 guys behind the ball – nine, sometimes – and it's easier to defend that way.
"We all know we can score goals – we didn't have a lot of games this year when we didn't create, when we didn't score.
"We were a bit too open sometimes when we were losing the ball, and having those guys there and also the team working hard, it's better for us."
The Galaxy are top of the West after an eight-match unbeaten run.
New York sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, seven points adrift of leaders DC United.
DC coach Ben Olsen was rewarded with a new contract on Monday and his side host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Sporting Kansas City, three points behind DC, host the third-placed New England Revolution on Friday.
The Sounders will be looking for a response to their loss to New York when they travel to Dallas on Wednesday.
Seattle also host Chivas USA.
Elsewhere, the in-form Portland Timbers visit Toronto and Real Salt Lake will be confident of winning at the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Columbus Crew take on the Montreal Impact, out-of-sorts duo the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes do battle, while the Houston Dynamo meet the Chicago Fire.
news_articleTue, 23 Sep 2014 23:37:46 +0000258106 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Wrap: Wright-Phillips treble inspires routBradley Wright-Phillips scored a hat-trick as New York Red Bulls sent an ominous warning to their MLS rivals, routing Seattle Sounders 4-1.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-review-wright-phillips-treble-inspires-red-bulls-rout
Englishman Wright-Phillips - the league's top scorer - took his tally to 24 goals with a treble against the high-flying Sounders at Red Bull Arena on Saturday.
A volley in the opening minute, followed by two strikes just after half-time from Wright-Phillips had the Red Bulls in cruise control.
And although Sounders captain Clint Dempsey came off the bench to reduce the deficit with 28 minutes remaining, substitute Tim Cahill quickly restored New York's three-goal cushion.
New York'sfourth league game without defeat saw them consolidate fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with 41 points after 29 games.
Seattle, who were crowned US Open Cup champions midweek, had their four-game winning streak ended as they dropped to second on goal difference in the Western Conference following the Los Angeles Galaxy's 2-1 win over Dallas.
After hitting the crossbar in the first half, Seattle fell two goals behind after Dylan Remick brought down Lloyd Sam inside the box in the 54th minute, and Wright-Phillips converted the penalty.
Wright-Phillips then poked Roy Miller's cross beyond Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei, meaning that Dempsey's goal – almost immediately cancelled out by Cahill – was merely a consolation.
Seattle's loss opened the door for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who came from behind to beat Dallas 2-1 and go top in the West.
After Blas Perez struck for Dallas nine minutes into the second half, Robbie Keane and substitute Alan Gordon were on target as Galaxy rose to the top on 54 points, albeit having played an extra match.
East pacesetters DC United overturned a two-goal deficit and took the lead but had to settle for a 3-3 draw at Chicago Fire.
Goals from Quincy Amarikwa and Jeff Larentowicz saw second-bottom Chicago leading 2-0 after 32 minutes but United levelled proceedings courtesy of Luis Silva's brace.
Bobby Boswell then put United in front with 22 minutes remaining. Matt Wilson ensured the spoils would be shared, though, as his 78th-minute goal meant the Fire salvaged a record-equalling 16th draw of the season.
Other results saw Columbus Crew beat third-placed New England 1-0 thanks to Federico Higuain's goal, while Portland Timbers and Montreal Impact recorded 3-0 and 2-0 wins over the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes respectively.
news_articleSun, 21 Sep 2014 05:35:10 +0000256256 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Preview: Sounders out to build on cup successSeattle Sounders will be full of confidence when they play host to in-form New York Red Bulls in MLS on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-preview-sounders-hoping-build-us-open-cup-success
Captain Clint Dempsey and star team-mate Obafemi Martins were on target in extra time as Seattle beat Philadelphia Union 3-1 in the US Open Cup final on Tuesday.
Sounders midfielder Chad Barrett cancelled out Maurice Edu's opener in the second half as the match went beyond 90 minutes at PPL Park.
The win - Seattle's fourth Open Cup triumph in six years - extended the Western Conference leaders' (54 points from 27 games) unbeaten streak to six games in all competitions ahead of their trip to Red Bull Arena.
"We missed a few chances and we needed to get a few breaks, but the team had a lot of desire and determination," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said.
"This was the hardest final we've played in terms of figuring who to keep on the field and who to take off. I don't know who's going to play Saturday, but we'll worry about that later.
"We've gone to five finals in six years and now we've won four, with two finals on the road."
Seattle - three points clear of Los Angeles Galaxy with one game in hand - will need to be at their best against a New York side in good form.
Unbeaten in three games and boasting leading goalscorer Bradley Wright-Phillips (21), the Red Bulls sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 42 points after 28 rounds.
Defeat to New York would open the door for the Galaxy, who could move top of the West on goal difference if they beat rivals Dallas on Saturday.
The Galaxy have played out back-to-back draws, but prior to that they won five games on the bounce.
In their seven-game unbeaten streak, Los Angeles have scored 22 goals - Landon Donovan (five), Gyasi Zardes (five) and Baggio Husidic (four) netted 12 between them.
Staying in the West, third-placed Real Salt Lake entertain play-off hopefuls the Colorado Rapids on Friday.
Real Salt Lake - eight points off the pace - will come up against an out-of-sorts Colorado, who are six points outside the top five after going eight matches without a win.
Philadelphia have the chance to respond to their loss to Seattle when they go head-to-head against fellow Eastern Conference team the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Elsewhere on Saturday, third-placed New England can extend their winning streak to six matches with victory at Columbus Crew.
Portland Timbers - fresh from their rout of Olimpia in the CONCACAF Champions League - will be out to take fifth spot from the Vancouver Whitecaps when the two West teams meet at Providence Park.
East pacesetters DC United, who were also victorious in Champions League action midweek, make the trip to second-bottom Chicago Fire.
Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers Montreal Impact play West strugglers the San Jose Earthquakes, who have not won in eight outings.
Meanwhile, Toronto will be aiming to end their six-match winless run when they host Chivas USA on Sunday.
news_articleThu, 18 Sep 2014 12:13:56 +0000254426 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Wrap: New England win again, New York heldNew England continued their fine MLS form on Saturday, while the New York Red Bulls were held.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-review-new-england-win-again-new-york-held
Jay Heaps' New England outfit struck twice in three minutes to claim a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact at the Gillette Stadium.
Kelyn Rowe and Lee Nguyen were on the scoresheet as the Revolution made it five straight victories.
New England, who sit third in the Eastern Conference, fell behind in the 13th minute.
Jack McInerney squared a pass for Calum Mallace to tap into an open net and put the Impact ahead.
Rowe drew the hosts level just 10 minutes later as his 30-yard effort snuck under Montreal goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
Just two minutes later, the Revolution were ahead as Nguyen completed a passing move with a fine chip.
The Impact – who are bottom of the Eastern Conference – had Polish defender Krzysztof Krol sent off in the 62nd minute.
The New York Red Bulls, fourth in the East, conceded a late penalty in a 2-2 draw at the Philadelphia Union.
Peguy Luyindula's penalty and Thierry Henry's goal had the Red Bulls in control late in the first half.
But Pedro Ribeiro pulled a goal back before Sebastien Le Toux's dramatic late equaliser from the penalty spot.
The Columbus Crew remain fifth after coming from behind to draw 2-2 at the Houston Dynamo.
Blas Perez's brace led Dallas to a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps with his first goal, a volley from near the sideline that looped over David Ousted, a contender for the best of 2014.
Toronto drew 1-1 at the Chicago Fire and the Colorado Rapids ended a seven-match losing run with a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers.
news_articleSun, 14 Sep 2014 05:19:33 +0000251470 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comChicago Fire forward Magee out for seasonChicago Fires chances of making the MLS play-offs took a significant hit on Tuesday, with star forward Mike Magee ruled out for the season.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/magee-out-season-sinama-pongolle
Magee underwent surgeryon Monday to repair a right hip problem, and he is set to spend six to eightmonths on the sidelines - meaning he may even miss the start of the 2015 season.
"It's unfortunate that Mike will be out for an extended period, but he's been struggling this season with the injuries," Fire coach Frank Yallop said.
"After consulting with our medical staff, we decided that this was the best time for Mike to have the procedure."
Magee has scored seven goals in 17 appearances this season, on the back of winning the MLS' MVP award in 2013 after scoring 21 goals for the season with the New York Red Bulls and Fire.
The 30-year-old had been out of action since Chicago's 1-0 loss to the Montreal Impact on August 16.
Chicago are seven points outside the top-five in the Eastern Conference standings, albeit with a game in hand and eight fixtures to play.
Also on Tuesday, the club brought in French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle from FC Rostov.
The former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid man, 29, will take an international roster spot.
"Florent is a quality player with experience playing in some of the top leagues in Europe," Yallop said.
"Since he's been training with us for the past few weeks, we've been able to see first-hand the attributes he has.
"I'm pleased that we were able to add him to the squad as we enter the final stretch of the regular season."
news_articleTue, 09 Sep 2014 21:51:07 +0000248730 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMLS Wrap: Revolution keep pressure on top twoNew England Revolution consolidated third spot in the Eastern Conference after coming from behind to beat Chicago Fire in MLS on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mls-review-revolution-keep-pressure-top-two-timbers-rally
Goals from Uruguayan import Diego Fagundez and substitute Charlie Davies cancelled out Sanna Nyassi's opener as the Revolution won 2-1 in front of 12,204 spectators at Gillette Stadium.
After extending their winning streak to four games, the in-form Revolution remain third in the East with 39 points from 27 matches.
New England are only three points adrift of second-placed Sporting Kansas City, who have lost four on the bounce.
The Fire are second from bottom in the East - seven points behind Philadelphia Union in the race for the final play-off spot.
And the Chicago franchise made a bright start in New England as they attempted to make it three games without defeat.
After heading an earlier effort wide of the post, Gambian forward Nyassi gave the visitors the lead in the 28th with a powerful header from Quincy Amarikwa's cross.
Nyassi had a golden opportunity to double the Fire's advantage after dispossessing United States international Jermaine Jones in the 30th minute but his effort hit the post.
Chicago were left to rue that chance as Fagundez restored parity five minutes before half-time, heading home from close range.
New England completed their comeback on the hour-mark, when Davies sprung the offside trap and placed the ball beyond Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson, having only been on the pitch for two minutes.
Columbus Crew are three points behind the Revolution after recording a comprehensive 3-0 win over lowly Chivas USA.
Justin Meram scored twice inside 15 minutes of the second half starting, while Bernardo Anor added a third for the home side with 10 minutes remaining at Columbus Crew Stadium.
Meanwhile,substitute Kalif Alhassan equalised four minutes from time as the Portland Timbers cancelled out a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 at home to the San Jose Earthquakes.
USA international striker Chris Wondolowski and Cordell Cato helped the Earthquakes to a two-goal lead before Alvas Powell and former West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell hit back for Portland in the second half.
Wondolowski completed his brace and restored the visitors' lead with five minutes remaining, only for Alhassan to net the leveller a minute later.
The draw was enough for Portland to remain in the fifth and final play-off spot in the Western Conference on 35 points.
But the stalemate was a blow for the out-of-form Earthquakes, who are eight points adrift of the play-off places but havetwo games in hand.
news_articleMon, 08 Sep 2014 02:34:50 +0000247544 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com